Flange and rail lubricator



Oct. 22, 1935. w. H, FOSTER ET A1. FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed July 1, 1952 JEVLVULUUUUULV Patented Oct. 22, 1935 PATENT OFFICE FLANGE AND RAIL LUBRICATOB William B. Foster and Ira L. Dudley, Princeton, W. Va.

Application July 1, 1932, Serial No. 620,324

Claims.

Y This invent-ion relates generally to the lubrication of railway tracks and particularly to a lubricating device which may be positioned to apply lubricant to the flanges of passing vehicle -s wheels so that the same may be subsequently deposited where needed, such for instance as on curves and other critical points in the track.

Many efforts have heretofore been made to provide a track lubricating device capable of satisfactory operation under the severe conditions of operation which exist. Although devices have heretofore been available which are with some degree of success capable of applying a light lubricant, such as oil, to the desired position on a railway track, such devices have not proved entirely satisfactory for the reason that generally speaking they are incapable of handling a heavy lubricant, such for instance as grease. Under the operating conditions encountered on many railroads light lubricants, such as oil, do not satisfactorily lubricate the track and those devices which are capable of applying only this type of lubricant are not satisfactory. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a lubricating device for railway tracks which is capable not only of efficiently applying light lubricant, such as oil where desired, but is also highly eflicient in the application of heavy lubricant, such as grease.

An object of the present invention generally stated is to provide a railway track lubricating device, the operating parts of which are so constructed and arranged as to be operated by impact with a passing vehicle part without hazard.

A further object of this invention is to provide a railway track lubricating device wherein the charge of lubricant ejected upon each stroke will be substantially uniform notwithstanding nonuniformity which may exist between successive operating impacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a railway track lubricating device so constructed and arranged as to be capable of operation under adverse weather conditions and efficient and positive in operation.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a railway track lubricating device wherein the parts actuated by passing vehicle parts are arranged to move in such manner as to reduce the derailment hazards.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railwayl track section having applied thereto a lubricating device constructed and arranged according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view in end elevation showing the device of the present invention in 5 operating position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump employed in the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing a lubricant l0 applying device constructed in accordance with the present invention applied to a rail.

Figure 5 is a detail view of a distributor plate employed in the lubricato-r of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of Figure 4.

In accordance with the present invention, generally stated, means is disposed in such position as to be engaged by and receive impact from a passing vehicle part, for instance the flange of the ordinary vehicle wheel and the force of this impact is transmitted through suitable mechanism to operate the moving parts of the lubricator. More specifically in accordance With the present invention the operating device just referred to is so arranged as to be moved laterally upon impact with the passing vehicle part, for instance a wheel flange, whereby derailment hazards are substantially avoided in view of the relative impossibility of ballast particles or other foreign substance hindering such lateral movement. In view of the fact that some variation in operating stroke in such an operating device as that just referred to may be expected, since some 35 vlateral play is provided for between the wheel iianges and the side faces of the rail heads, under ordinary circumstances the lubricating device of the present invention is preferably provided with a pump so constructed and arranged that the charge of lubricant delivered upon successive strokes thereof remains uniform notwithstanding variations in the length of the stroke of the operating device. A feature of particular importance in the present invention is the capability 4,5 of the lubricator to handle a heavy lubricant, such for instance as grease, as well as to handle light lubricants, and in order to better adapt the lubricator of the present invention to the handling of heavy lubricants, such as greases, means is provided to facilitate feeding the lubricant to the pump and further to prevent channelling or the forming of air passages which tend to occur in the handling of greases. This invention further contemplates the provision of a' lubricant applyu;

ing device adapted to periodically deposit a charge of lubricant Yon the flange side face of a rail head and to control the ow of lubricant from the pump. More specifically in accordance with the present invention such lubricant applying device is operated by impact with a passing vehicle part, such for instance as the flange of the vehicle wheel and in order'to better adapt the device to withstand the severe shocks of such impacts and reduce the probability of derailments consequent to the obstructionV of its movement, such lubricant applying device is preferably mounted so as to substantially follow the arc of a circle upon impact with a passing vehicle part. By this arrangement not only is the mechanical shock to the device readily absorbed, by the springs provided, but the downward movement thereof is resolved into lateral movement whereby the severe hazards so liable to occur in the operation of such devices as move up and down, as for instance the presence of apiece of ballast therebeneath, are avoided and operation of the device rendered positive and safe.

4 to permit ready attachment of lever 8;

vReferring now particularly to the drawing for anv illustrative embodimentof the present invention a railway track comprising parallel rails and 2 is shown and the rails are in accordance with the usual practice spiked or otherwise securedV tok ties 3. Mounted adjacent the rail and on the flange side thereof is an operating member 4 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a relative long strip of metal, for instance steel, having Van intermediate portion of substantial length 5 extending parallel tothe rail and normally positioned at a distance therefrom less than the thickness of the flange of an ordinary vehicle wheel. At each end Vof the intermediate portion 5 is a ared portion 6 extending away from the rail Vas shown so that at the extreme ends the'device is spaced from the flange side face of the rail head a distance safely beyond the maximum displacement of the flange of the passing vehicle wheel from the rail. The extreme ends of the device may be suitably anchored as by Vbrackets 'i to the ties orotherwise supported. VIf desired, suitable springs may bev provided for imparting additional resilience to the operating device. Y V

To the intermediate portion of the part 5 is attached .a lever 8 which may be pivotedrupon a suitable plate carried 'by ties or otherwise mounted as at 9. It willv be understood that suitable ears or lugs may be secured to the device The lower end of the lever 8 as shown in Figure 2 extends downwardly below pivot S and is there connected to a drag link` extending transversely of the track and preferably positioned between two ties as shown in Figure 1. The drag link Ii may extend beyond the ends of ties 3 Vand be connected to a crank I 2 carried by shaft I3 and mounted in suitable bearings in the wall of reservoir I4. 'The reservoir lil may be of any desired size and shape but when heavy lubricants, such as greases, are toV be handled the sameis preferably provided with a hopper bottom as shown. Carried by the shaft |3 and positioned for oscillation back and forth withinV is pivotally attachedgwith sufiicient play to permit operation, to a bell crank lever I1 mounted upon the side of reservoir I4. The bell crank lever I'i may be connected asby link I8 toa 10 crank I9 secured to one end of a shaft 2t mounted in suitable bearings carried by reservoir I4. On the lower end of the shaft 2G may be secured a crank 2| the outer end of which may be pivotally connected to the plunger of pump I6. It 15 Y will be understood that the mechanical connections just described are shown merely for the purposes of illustration and that any suitable mechanism may be employed for transmitting an operating force from member 4 to pump I5. 20 The discharge end of pump I5 may be connected by a suitable pipe Y22 to a lubricant applying device 23.

'I'he lubricant applying device may be mounted upon a suitable base, for instance plate 24, which 25 may be `secured as by means of a clamp 25 to the flange of the rail 2. Mounted upon plate 2A on the opposite side of the rail from clamp 25 is a block 26 having a portion 2l formed to enter the recess between ange 28 of Ythe rail 30 Y Yand head 29 thereof and preferably fitting up closely to the web of the rail. Block 26 may be provided with an arcuate guide surface 33 upon which may be seated a member 3| having a corresponding arcuate surface 32. Suitable means, 85 as for instance a coil spring 33 seated in recess 34 of block 23 and'suitably connected as at 35 to member 3i may be provided for maintaining member 3| in position upon block 25 and preferably biasing the same in an upward direction as shown in Figure 4. A suitable cover 43 may be provided for enclosing the lower or inner extremity of member 3 I. As sho-wn in the drawing the upper end of member 3| is disposed in the path of the wheel flanges which as they pass 5' at 33 to facilitate climbing of the wheel flange M3V thereon and reduce the shock of the impact.

Carried in a recess 3! near the t'op of member 3| is a distributor plate 38 which in case it is intended to handle heavy lubricants may be formed of metal while in the case of light lubricants and oils may be formed of a piece of felt or other absorbent material. In the normal position shown in Figure 4 a part of the surface of distributor plate 38 lies in contact with flange side face 39 of rail 2 being biased thereagainst 60 by spring E39. In that portion of the surface of distributor plate 38 which normallyV contacts flange side face 39 of the head rail 2 a plurality of lubricant distributing'grooves 4S are preferably provided as illustrated in Figure 5. Dis- "YV tributor plate 38 may be suitably retained in position as by means of a pivot Ypin |38 extending therethrough. V Pipe 22 leading from pump I6 may terminate in the form of a lubricant conduit 4| on the 70 are preferably disposed beyond mouth 42 Yof the conduit 4| so as to be out of communication therewith, while the lower edge of distributor plate 38 may be disposed in such position as to block or close mouth 42 of lubricant conduit 4I. If desired, the lubricant may be delivered otherwise, as for instance through the member 3| to which pipe 22 may be suitably connected. It will be understood, of course, that suitable gaskets may be provided in and around the mouth 42 of the lubricant conduit 4I to prevent leakage when the parts are in the normal position shown.

As pointed out hereinbefore the distance which operating member 4 is moved laterally upon impact with successive vehicle wheels is non-uniform, but it is apparent that the charge of lubricant delivered to the lubricant applying device 23 should be as nearly uniform as possible. and accordingly this invention contemplates a lubricant pumping means so constructed and arranged that the discharge thereof will be substantially uniform notwithstanding a non-uniformity of actual operating stroke. Referring now particularly to Figure 3 for an illustrating embodiment, such a pump may c-omprise a cylinder 44 having an inlet port 45 in communication with lubricant reservoir I4 and disposed to conduct lubricant from the reservoir to the interior of pump cylinder 44 when the parts are in the position shown. A plunger 46 is provided for operating on the interior of cylinder 44 and is provided with a shank 41 connected to receive its driving force through crank 2| or other suitable operating mechanism. At the end of cylinder 44 is an outlet 48 in which is seated a suitable ball valve 49 normally maintained in seating position as by spring 5I and arranged to discharge into pipe 22. Plunger 46 may be provided with an axially extending bore 52 terminating in a plurality of ports 53 arranged in spaced relation about the periphery of plunger 46. The position of ports 53 may be determined in accordance with the quantity of charge desired upon each operation ci the plunger, it .being understood that the more remote ports 53 are from the end 54 of the plunger the greater will be the charge of lubricant emitted on each operation of the pump. It will be apparent that bore 52 in conjunction with ports 53 operates as a by-pass whereby to regulate and maintain uniform the amount of lubricant discharged throughout outlet port 48 upon each operation of the plunger. It is evident that when ports 53 come into alinement with inlet port 45 the pressure upon that quantity of lubricant which is conned ahead of the plunger or between end 54 thereof and outlet port 48 will be released. Upon further operation of the plunger beyond this position, such lubricant as confined beyond the end of the plunger will find exit through bore 52, ports 53 and 45 back into the reservoir I4, it being understood that the force exerted upon valve 49 exceeds the pressure of the static column of lubricant in reservoir I4. It is apparent that suitable means may be provided for varying the. position of ports 53 'with reference to the end 54 of the plunger in order to vary the charge of lubricant delivered by the pump at Will.

From the foregoing description the cycle of operations of the lubricator hereinbefore described will be understood to be as follows: upon approach of a railway vehicle the wheel iianges on one side thereof will be guided between flared portions 6 of member i and the flange side face of the head of rail I. As movement of the vehicle continues the flared portions 6 operate to effect a camming movement of member 4 moving the parallel portions thereof outwardly away from the rail until the parts vassume the position shown in Figure 2. This lateral movement of member 5 effects a rotation of lever 8 in a clockwise direction about its .5 pivot 9 and draws drag link I I to the left as shown in .Figure 2. As drag link II moves to the left agitator shaft I3 is oscillated and agitator blades I5 on the interior of reservoir I4 wipe or smear the lubricant contained therein back and forth in 1e order to prevent channelling due to suction of pump I5 which is concurrently operated. The movement of drag link I I toward the left is transmitted through the mechanism shown to move plunger 46 of pump I6 toward the left. No lubri- 1.', cant is, however, discharged by pump 46 until end 54 thereof moves into such position that port 45 is completely closed. Furthermore movement of plunger 46 is effective to discharge lubricant through port 48 and this continues until port 45 is again opened by coming into alinement with one of ports 53. Although the plunger 46 may actually move beyond this position it is understood that the active operation of the plunger pump ceases when port 53 opens port 45.

Pump 45 discharges lubricant into pipe 22 which leads to and supplies lubricant to any desired number of lubricant applying devices 23, it being un-v derstood that the present invention lends itself to the use of a plurality of such devices as 23 and 3o .under ordinary circumstances it is desirable to employ at least four such devices as 23 in connection with each operating mechanism and pump. As the vehicle Wheel approaches the 1ubricant applying device 23 the flange will ride on :.3 the upper surface thereof and force member 3l downwardly and inwardly in an arcuate path. This movement brings grooves 40 or other lubricant receiving recesses into position. adjacent mouth 42 of lubricant conduit 4I and thereby 49 charges the same with a new supply of lubricant. As the wheel rolls off the top surface of member 3| spring 33 is effective to return the same to the position shown in Figure 3 whereupon the charge of lubricant contained in grooves 40 will 45 be deposited upon iiange of the Wheel which passes thereover. It will be understood, therefore, that upon each operation of member 3| distributor recesses 4E) receive a fresh charge of lubricant which upon return of member 3| to its 0 normal position is deposited upon the flange side face 39 where it may be removed by the next succeeding wheel which presses member 3| out of normal position.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that many modifications of the lubricating device hereinbefore described will present themselves to those skilled in the art which will not depart from the spirit of this invention. It is to be distinctly understood, therefore, that the foregoing descrip- @0 tion and the accompanying drawing are to be construed as merely illustrative of one embodiment of this invention and not considered in a limitative sense. It is to be understood, therefore, that such modifications and the use of such 65 individual features and sub-combinations of features as do not depart from the spirit of this invention are, although not specifically described herein, contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

l. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part. said 75 member disposed for non-uniform movement upon Y successive engagements, and a plunger pump operated by said member and having portsA arranged to limit the operative stroke to an intermediate part of the actual plunger stroke.

3. A device ofV the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, a lubricant reservoir, a distributor, a pump for extracting lubricant from said reservoir and forcing the same toward said distributor, and means-in said reservoir disposed to prevent channelling oi lubricant therein.VV

4. Adevice oi' the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, a reservoir disposed to receive heavy lubricant and an agitator in said reservoir operated by said member and arranged to prevent channelling of the lubricant.

5. A device oi the kind described comprising incombination, a distributor having a surface normally seated against the ange side'iace of a rail head and arranged for movement away from the same, and a lubricant supply conduit,

Y said distributor arranged when in normal position to close said conduit.

6. Av device of the kind described comprising in combination, a distributor having a lubricant receiving recessv normally positionedadjacent the ange side face of a rail head, a normally closed lubricant supply conduit, and means operated by engagement With a passing vehicle part for moving said distributor and connecting the recesses With said conduit. Y Y 7. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, a lubricant applying device having a part disposed in the path of the wheel flange of passing vehiclesand arrangedto be moved thereby, and an arcuate guide for said part.

8. A device oi' the kind described comprising in combination, alubricant applying device having a member arranged for engagement with and movement downwardlyby a passing vehicle part,

and means slidably receiving said member arranged'to guide the same laterally inward during such downward movement.

9. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, a lubricant applying device having a memberprovided with an arcuate guide surface and a surface arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, a block shaped for disposition between the iiange and head oi' a rail and having an arcuate surface arranged to receive said member.

10. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, a lubricant applying device having a member provided with an arcuate guide surface and a surface arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, a guide for saidk member arranged for mounting adjacent a rail, and spring means connecting said guide and member and disposed to bias said member into position for engagement with a passing vehicle part.

ll. A device o1' the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged to be engagedV and moved laterally by a passing vehicle part, a pump operated thereby, and lubricant applying means arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part and for movement thereby downwardly and inwardly away from the rail.

l2. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, said member disposed for non-uniform movement upon successive engagements, and a plunger pump operated by said member and having an axially extending passageway arranged to be opened to relieve the pressure in the pump cylinder and limit the operative stroke of the pump. i3. A device of the kind described comprising in combination, an operating member arranged for engagement with a passing vehicle part, the amplitude of movement ci said member being variable, a plunger pump operated by said member, the length of the stroke oi said pump varying in accordance with the amplitude o! movement of said member, and means for limiting the discharge of said pump independently oi the amplitude of movement of said member. Y

14. A device oi.' the kind described comprising, in combination, a lubricant reservoir, a reciprocable plunger pump having a relatively small passageway communicating with said reservoir and arranged upon movement in one direction to suck lubricant through said passageway, wiping means in said reservoir arranged for movement through the lubricant adjacent said passageway to prevent channelling thereof upon suction by the pump, and means for moving said wiping means during movement of the pump plunger.

15. A device of the kind described comprising, in combination, an'operating member arranged to be actuated by a passing vehicle part,V a lubricant reservoir, a reciprocable plunger pump having a relatively small passageway communicating with said reservoir and arranged upon movement in one direction to suck lubricant through said passageway, wiping means in said reservoir arranged for movement through the lubricant adjacent said passageway to prevent channelling thereof upon suction by the pump. and connections from said operating member for reciprocating the pump plunger and the wiping means.

WILLIAM H. FOSTER. IRA L. DUDLEY, 

